AP

From wire reports (AP) — Forecasters say a mild, wet weather system will bring more rain and flooding to Washington before things dry out Friday.

Photo: Rain drops collect on a a bus stop wall as Lori Dietrich waits for the bus in Tacoma, Wash., on Tuesday Jan. 6, 2009. (By Janet Jensen, The News Tribune, via AP)

The National Weather Service expects another 4 to 8 inches of rain on the coast and Cascades through Wednesday night with 1 to 3 inches elsewhere in Western Washington.

The rain and warmer temperatures are melting snow in the mountains and Eastern Washington.

The Weather Service is warning of flooding on several Western Washington rivers: the Satsop, Skykomish, Snohomish, Cedar, Carbon, Nisqually, Deschutes and Chehalis. A flood watch is in effect for many Eastern Washington rivers and forecasters say there's also a risk of urban flooding.

Pierce County emergency officials are urging 700 residents in the Orting area to evacuate to avoid flooding from the Carbon and Puyallup rivers.

A county emergency management spokeswoman, Sheri Badger, told KING-TV that automated phone calls went to the residents, and sheriff's deputies went house-to-house asking residents to move to higher ground.

Whatcom County has declared an emergency to help officials deal with flooded roads and mudslides.

A spokesman at the county's emergency operation center with Bellingham, city police Lt. Rick Sucee, says small creeks are now rivers and ditches are overflowing.

He says mudslides have hit at least three homes — a couple in the Acme area where water has closed Highway 9. The Mount Baker Highway also is closed.

Sucee says the main street in Bellingham, Meridian, is covered with water. And water is up to the doors of businesses on Iowa Street, the city's auto row.

There are no reports of injuries.

County Executive Pete Kremmen declared the emergency Tuesday night to speed up emergency purchasing and government aid.

Avalanches and standing water have closed Snoqualmie and Stevens passes, two main highway routes through the Cascades.

The Transportation Department is clearing snow and debris and assessing the danger before deciding when they can be reopened.

White Pass remains open, traction tires advised.

Flooding from heavy rains and melting snow blocked other highways in places around Washington. They include Highway 9 in Whatcom County, Highway 20 near Hamilton in Skagit County, Highway 165 in Wilkeson in Pierce County, Highway 162 in Orting, Highway 112 near Clallam Bay, Highway 8 in Thurston County and Highway 10 near Ellensburg.

In Oregon, U.S. 26 was closed along a 22-mile stretch after high winds toppled trees.

There were no reports of injuries, but some truckers and passenger vehicles were stranded without a detour while crews worked to clear the road.

Oregon Highway 35 was closed for a time to truck traffic from Government Camp to Parkdale because high winds and blowing debris created hazardous driving conditions. Oregon 216 between Maupin and Warm Springs was similarly closed.

http://www.usatoday.com/weather/floods/2009-01-07-washington-flooding-avalanches_N.htm

www.standeyo.com/NEWS/09_Earth_Changes/090107.heavy.rain.PNW.html